The Bargain

Chapter 1

Alice 

“Marry Thomas Brooks… and every cent of your brother’s hospital bills will be sorted.”  

The words slammed into me like ice water.

Marry Thomas Brooks? The cold-hearted billionaire with a reputation so dark everyone feared him?

My knees buckled as I heard the faint beep of the machine in Brandy's ward. 

Aunt Sam stood across from me, her arms crossed, her red lips curled like this was nothing more than a business deal.

Before I could process the words, her cold voice echoed through the hallway once again.

“So, what’s your decision, Alice? Are you willing to do it… or would you rather watch your brother die that way?” Her words hit me like thunder, leaving me no space to think.  

I dropped hard to the cold floor, my fingers clawing at her feet. “Please aunty, anything but this. He’s old, he's ruthless. I can't…”  

She kicked my hands away before I could finish. “Then be ready to kiss Brandy goodbye.” She said and turned to the door, her heels clicking on the marble floor like gunshots.

“Wait!” My voice cracked, hot tears streaming down my cheeks. I couldn't breathe. I couldn't think properly either. All I could see was Brandy's pale face, tubes down his throat like a cold threat. 

He was dying, and I had to save him. This was the only chance I had.

“I'll do it.” I whispered, my voice cracking through the quiet weight of my muffled sobs. “I'll marry him.”

Aunt Sam turned back, her eyes lit with excitement. “Good girl.” She grabbed my wrist and pulled me up to my feet. “The wedding is tomorrow. Let's go get you pretty for your new owner.”

3 years later…

Three years have passed, and my life in Thomas’s house has been nothing but pure misery.

Brandy had gotten into college after his surgery, and since then, I’ve been trapped, living with the monster I called a husband.

I was even pregnant… carrying the child of the man who treated me like nothing but trash.

‘I’ll change him,’ So I thought… until everything changed that night.

It was 7 pm. I was making dinner when a sudden pain sliced across my lower back and wrapped around my stomach like fire.

I dropped to the floor, clutching my stomach tight as I yelled Thomas's name desperately. 

But he remained silent through it all.

Another contraction hit. Water gushed down my legs, spreading across the floor. I screamed his name again, dropping to my knees in the puddle.

He clearly heard me but chose to ignore me, lounging in the living room like I was invisible.

When he finally came in, his glare was furious, but not out of concern.

He lifted the pot lid without a word, disappointment written all over his face.

“How can you be so useless, Alice? You’ve been cooking for over an hour yet you haven’t even gone halfway!” He spat, his cold voice slamming through the kitchen like a heavy blow.

I grasped my pounding stomach, trying so hard to steady my breath. “Thomas, please…” I panted, gripping the edge of the counter. “...the baby’s coming. I can’t feel my legs.”  

He crouched in front of me, but there was no worry in his eyes, only disgust. “And why should that bother me?” His voice thundered, laced with venom. “You’re always making a fuss, and I’m done with your drama. Get up and get back to work. Now.”

“I’m in labor!” I grabbed his ankle. “Please, you need to help me.”

He kicked my hands off furiously, then he leaned closer towards me, his voice dropping into a cold whisper.

“Listen carefully,” he hissed, his breath hot against my face. “You are worthless, and so is that thing growing inside you. Mention this pregnancy one more time and I will end you both myself.”

His words hit me like a punch. He stormed out before I could even catch my breath.

Tears welled up in my eyes, and I screamed even louder.

Minutes later, Maria, the youngest maid, burst in, her eyes wide with terror. 

“Mrs. Brooks!” She dropped beside me, slipping an arm under my shoulders. “We need to get you to the hospital right away.”  

She half-carried me through the house, until we reached the gate. As soon as we got to the gate, she flagged down a taxi and shoved me in the back seat. She hopped into the front seat quickly, yelling at the driver to move.

The pain cut even deeper this time, and I faintly heard her voice trying to soothe me, urging me to stay calm.

Then everything went dark.

~

I woke up to the steady beep of machines and the sting of bright white lights flashing into my eyes. 

My body felt empty, like all life had been drained from it.

A doctor stood at the foot of the bed. He looked like he was in his mid-forties, with sharp cheekbones which made him appear tough. His eyes were the exact color of Thomas’s. 

My stomach dropped before he even said a word.

“You’re stable, Mrs. Brooks,” he said gently, his voice as calm as a lake. “But there were severe complications.”

I tried to sit up as panic coursed through my veins. “My baby?”  

He hesitated for a moment, his quiet eyes freezing me in place. 

That silence explained everything.

“We did everything we could,” he said at last. “I’m sorry. The placenta tore away completely. We couldn’t stop the bleeding in time.”  

The room spun around me, and I struggled to catch my breath.

He placed a folder on the tray table, stepping closer towards my bed. 

“There's something else you should know, Mrs Brooks.”